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Updated: May 29, 2026
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Modulating Cognition Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Cerebellum
Published on: February 15, 2015
Modulating cortico-striatal and thalamo-cortical functional connectivity with transcranial direct current stimulation
Rafael Polanía1, Walter Paulus, Michael A Nitsche
1Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Georg-August University of Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany. rafael.polania@med.uni-goettingen.de
Human Brain Mapping
|September 17, 2011
Summary
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) alters brain networks. Anodal tDCS over the motor cortex enhances thalamo-cortical and cortico-striatal functional connectivity, impacting motor circuits.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Brain Stimulation
- Functional Neuroimaging
Background:
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive technique modulating cortical excitability.
- Evidence for tDCS effects on subcortical areas is limited, despite functional imaging and behavioral suggestions.
- The precise impact of tDCS on cortico-subcortical functional networks remains to be fully elucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of tDCS on cortico-subcortical functional networks.
- To analyze tDCS-induced alterations in the cortico-striato-thalamic circuit using seed functional connectivity.
- To provide direct evidence for tDCS modulation of subcortical regions.
Main Methods:
- Acquisition of resting-state fMRI data before and after 10 minutes of bipolar tDCS.
- Application of tDCS with anode/cathode over left primary motor cortex (M1) and contralateral frontopolar cortex.
- Inclusion of a sham stimulation session to control for placebo effects.
Main Results:
- Anodal tDCS over M1 significantly increased functional coupling between the left thalamus and ipsilateral M1.
- Functional connectivity between the left caudate nucleus and parietal association cortices was strengthened.
- Cathodal tDCS over M1 decreased functional coupling between left M1 and the contralateral putamen.
Conclusions:
- tDCS modulates functional connectivity within cortico-striatal and thalamo-cortical circuits.
- Anodal tDCS over M1 influences elements of the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical motor circuit.
- This study provides novel direct evidence for tDCS-induced subcortical network modulation.
